Ornamental visor strap for a uniform cap



Se t. 20, 1966 P. J. CONNOLLY 3,273,166

ORNAMENTAL VISOR STRAP FORA UNIFORM CAP Filed April 30. 1964 FIGURE 3 FIGURE 4 FIGURE 7 FIGURE 6 INVENTOR. PATRICK J. CONNOLLY United States Patent 3,273,166 ORNAMENTAL VISOR STRAP FOR A UNIFORM CAP Patrick J. Connolly, Medfield, Mass., assignor to the United States of America as represented by the 'Secretary of theArrny Filed Apr. 30, 1964, Ser. No. 364,042 10 Claims. (Cl. 2-185) The invention described herein, if patented, may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to an ornamental band for a headpiece and more particularly to a visor strap of the type frequently used with uniform caps.

Traditionally military type uniforms, especially dress uniforms, have included caps having visors and visor straps, the latter sometimes referred to as chin straps and made of leather or fabric or combinations thereof embroidered with gold bullion in an ornamental design. In addition to the high cost of the precious metal used in these visor straps, the appearance of the visor straps is Mary difiicult to maintain because of tarnishing and abrasion of the gold threads.

In recent years methods have been devised for treating aluminum by an anodizing process which, with the assistance of special dyes, provides a finished article closely approaching the appearance of another metal or a metalplated article. Such an anodizing process is adaptable to the production of gold or silver-simulating articles, particularly ornamental parts of uniforms for the Armed Forces, law enforcement oflicers, and others.

An object of the invention is to provide an ornamental headpiece band which will retain its shape and position on a headpiece and will be less costly to produce than prior fabric or leather bands employed for similar purposes.

Another object is to provide an ornamental cap visor strap simulating a gold braid embroidered cap visor strap, but not requiring the use of gold.

A further object is the provision of a method of making an ornamental headpiece band simulating a .gold or silver braid embroidered headpiece band for uniforms at substantially lower cost than that of making headpiece bands from fabric or leather embroidered with gold or silver braid. I Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description of one embodiment of the invention, and the novel features will be particularly pointed out in connection with the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

FIGURE 1 isa front elevation of an ornamental visor strap for a uniform headpiece in accordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a top view of the ornamental visor strap.

FIGURE 3 is a horizontal section of the ornamental visor strap along the lines 33 of FIGURE 1 with portions broken away. I

FIGURE 4 is a horizontal section of the ornamental visor strap along the-line 44 of FIGURE 1 with portions broken away.

FIGURE 5 is a vertical'section of the ornamental visor strap along the line 5--5 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 6 is a vertical section along-the line 6-6 of FIGURE 2, showing the approximate angle of each 'oftwo prongs in the inner strap with respect to the remaining portion of the inner strap.

FIGURE 7 is a vertical section of the ornamental visor strap along the line 7-7 of FIGURE 2.

3,273,166 Patented Sept. 20, 1966 'ice In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the ornamental visor strap 10 is constructed for the most part of rolled aluminum wire strip which is embossed with an ornamental design. The aluminum wire stripconvenient- 1y has a thickness of from about .020 to about .030 inch. Substantial lengths of aluminum wire strip of this thickness and of a width suitable for the visor strap are subjected to an embossing operation employing embossing rolls which continuously emboss on the aluminum wire strip an ornamental design 11 suitable for an ornamental visor strap. The aluminum wire strip is preferably embossed using a partial force on the rear face of the strip. The partial force is accomplished by a steel roll having two parallel spaced apart ridges or raised portions in its surface forming two parallel continuous raised rings around the periphery thereof. These ridges or raised rings are shaped and located on the force roll so as to correspond with the deepest portions of the die. As a result, the fine detail of the ornamental design is brought out more completely than it would be if a partial force were not employed. Furthermore, the partial force produces two parallel grooves in the reverse face of the embossed aluminum wire strip into which the highest embossed portions on the front face of another length of the embossed aluminum wire strip nest when two lengths are superimposed as in an assembled visor strap, as more particularly described hereinafter.

The embossed aluminum wire strip is cut into appropriate lengths for assembling into a visor strap as hereinafter described. For each visor strap two relatively long lengths are cut to form the outer length or outer strap 12 and the inner length'or inner strap 13. Also, three shorter lengths are cut, one to form a tab 14, another to form a tab retainer 15, and still another to form a strap guide 16. Both ends of the outer strap 12 and the inner strap 13 and one end of tab 14 are cut to form pointed ends as shown in'FIGS. 1 and 2. The two short lengths of embossed aluminum wire strip which are to form tab retainer 15 and strap guide 16 are bent into substantially the shapes shown in FIGURES 5 and 7, but with the portions thereof which are to be behind the rear face of the inner strap remaining as shown in the broken lines until the visor strap is assembled, whereupon these portions are further bent to assume the assembled form of the tab retainer 15 and strap guide 16, as shown in solid lines in FIGURES 5 and 7. Bending of these two short lengths of embossed aluminum wire strip in this manner is carried out prior to anodizing and dyeing the lengths of embossed aluminum Wire strip in order to avoid or at least minimize cracking of the anodized surface during assembly of the visor strap.

A hole 17 is formed near one end of the outer strap 12 and a similar hole 18 is formed near one end of the inner strap 13, these holes being of a size suitable for installation therein of brass grommets at a later stage in the manufacture of the visor strap. In each instance, theend of the strap having the hole shall be referred to as the outer end thereof. Two triangularly shaped prongs 19 are cut in the inner strap 13, in a position to be concealed by the outer strap 12 when the assembled visor strap is attached to a cap. As shown in FIGURES 2 and 6,-the prongs are bent at an angle of approximately degrees with respect to the rear face of the inner strap and with the points of the prongs so they will be directed upwardly at an oblique angle in the assembled visor st-rap. When the assembled strap is attached to the cap, these prongs will be pressed against and into the crown of the cap, thus preventing the vistor strap from riding upwardly on the crown of the cap and furthermore resisting lateral shifting of the inner strap 13 resulting 3 in lengthening of the visor strap causing the visor strap to drop onto the top of the visor. Thus, a fault of the embroidered visor straps of the prior art is avoided by the use of the visor strap of this invention.

The pieces of embossed aluminum wire strip including the outer strap, the inner strap, the tab and the partially formed tab retainer and strap guide are subjected to an anodizing and dyeing operation prior to being assembled into a visor strap. These pieces are placed on titanium metal racks and subjected to a degreasing and etching operation in 5% caustic soda solution at 150 F. for 510 seconds. Following rinsing, the pieces are electropolished for approximately 60 seconds, the time depending on the solution employed and the degree of electropolishing desired. The pieces are then subjected to an anodizing operation in a bath of 20% aqueous sulfuric acid solution at 6875 F. for 30 minutes, applying a current density of about 0.1 ampere per square inch. They are then thoroughly rinsed in clear water. The thoroughly rinsed pieces of anodized wire strip are then dyed in an appropriate solution to attain the desired color. For example, the appearance of gold plating can be produced by using a mixture of Yellow G3 LW and Red B3 LW in aqueous solution, in proportions selected to match the shade desired, at pH 5-6, for approximately 30-45 seconds dyeing time. The excess dye bath is rinsed off and the dyed pieces are then sealed by immersion in an appropriate solution such as a nickel cobalt acetate solution at 195- 200 F. for 30-60 minutes, the time depending on the temperature employed. The sealed pieces are then rinsed and dried and are ready for assembly into visor straps.

Following the anodizing, dyeing and sealing of the pieces of embossed aluminum Wire strip, the tab 14 is cemented to the middle portion of the rear surface of the tab retainer 15 so that the pointed portion of the tab will extend to one side of the tab retainer as best seen in FIG- URES l and 3. An epoxy type adhesive may conveniently be employed for cementing the tab to the tab retainer.

In order to prevent abrasion of the outer strap 12 and resulting deterioration of its finish after assembly of the visor strap and during adjustment of the length thereof, an outer strap pad 20 of relatively soft material is secured to the reverse face of the tab. The pad may consist of a polymeric film, for example Teflon, a p'olytetrafluoroethylene product manufactured by E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Co., and usually has a pressure-sensitive adhesive on its reverse face for securing it to another surface, such as the reverse face of the tab.

The strap guide 16 is cemented, using an epoxy type or other suitable adhesive, to the outer strap 12 near the inner end thereof leaving the pointed end of the outer strap exposed as seen in FIGURES l and 4. In order to prevent abrasion of the inner strap 13 after assembly of the vision strap and during adjustment of the length thereof, an inner strap pad 21 of a material similar to that of outer strap pad 20, described above, is secured to the rear surface of the outer strap 12 behind the portion to which the strap guide is cemented.

The outer strap 12 is superimposed on the inner strap 13 so that the tab retainer and tab are near the right hand end of the visor strap and the strap guide is near the left hand end of the visor strap after assembly thereof as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2. The hole in the outer strap is near the right hand end of the visor strap and the hole in the inner strap is near the left hand end of the visor strap after assembly. Cement, such as that used for securing the tab to the tab retainer, is applied to the rear surface of the inner strap; and the ends of the tab retainer 15 are further bent over and secured by the cement to the rear surface of inner strap 13 in such a manner that the outer strap 12 slides freely through tab retainer 15, its front face being protected from abrasion by outer strap pad 20, as described above. The ends-of the strap guide 16 are further bent over and againstthe rear surface of the inner strap 13 so that 1h? inner strap is embraced by the strap guide but remains freely slideable therein to effect adjustments in the length of the visor strap. Thus the visor strap can be readily lengthened or shortened to make the visor strap fit practically any sized cap.

Brass grommets 22 and 23 are now installed in holes 17 and 18 respectively. This completes the assembly of the visor strap, which is now ready for application to the crown of a cap by inserting threaded bolts, not shown, through holes 17 and 18 and grommets 22 and 23 and fastening them to cooperating threaded sockets, not shown, attached to the crown of the cap at predetermined points along the sides of the crown, as is customary in the uniform cap art. Other means for fastening the visor strap to the crown of a cap may be employed.

When the assembled visor strap is applied to the front of the crown of a cap, such as a miiltary uniform cap, the visor strap of this invention imparts to the cap an appearance quite similar to that obtained by aflixing a gold braid embroidered visor strap to the cap, as has been customary in the prior art. However, the visor strap of the present invention offers distinct advantages over the gold braid embroidered type of visor strap of the prior art in that it does not tarnish and is much more durable. The gold braid embroidered visor straps of the prior art tarnished easily and quickly, detracting from the appearance of the caps and requiring relatively frequent replacement of the visor strap. Also, the visor strap of this invention is appreciably less susceptible to abrasion damage than the gold braid embroidered visor straps of the prior art. Further, the relative stiffness of the anodized aluminum visor strap of this invention, coupled with the action of the prongs cut from the inner strap and inserted in the fabric of the crown of the cap, tends to create a better appearance over long periods of usage since the ornamental visor strap of this invention does not stretch and sag as did the fabric visor straps of the prior art. This visor strap also does not ride up on the crown because of the prongs, and, therefore, remains substantially in one position and retains its original appearance or deviates only slightly there? from over a much longer period of time than the fabric visor straps of the prior art.

A further important advantage of the anodized and dyed visor strap of the present invention is its relatively low cost compared with gold braid embroidered visor straps. Under peacetime conditions, when a large proportion of the gold braid embroidered visor straps are produced abroad at appreciably lower labor cost than would obtain in the United States, the gold braid embroidered visor straps cost approximately three times as much as the anodized and dyed aluminum visor straps of the present invention. In case of war or the cutting off of the supply of gold braid embroidered visor straps from foreign sources for other reasons, the cost differential would become much greater. These cost comparisons are on the basis of new visor straps. Overall cost differentials would, of course, be much greater in view of the abovedes'cribed characteristics of greater durability and freedom from tarnish of the visor straps of the present invention.

It will be understood that various changes in the details, materials, steps and arrangements of parts, which have been herein described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of the invention, may be made by those skilled in the art Within the principle and scope of the inventio as expressed in the appended claims. I

I claim:

1. An ornamental visor strap for a uniform headpiece comprising:

(a) an outer strap,

(b) aninner strap,

(c) means carried by said inner strap and adapted to engage said headpiece to prevent vertical movement of said visor strap in relation to said headpiece,

(d) atab,

(e) a tab retainer fixed to the front face of said tab and the rear face of said inner strap near one end thereof and defining a passageway between said tab and said inner strap for slideably receiving said outer strap,

(f) a strap guide fixed to the front face of said outer strap near one end thereof and having portions extending over the top and bottom edges and at least a part of the rear face of said outer strap, said portions and the rear face of said outer strap defining a passageway for slideably receiving said inner strap, and

(g) means for attaching said ornamental visor strap to said headpiece, said outer strap, inner strap, tab, tab retainer and strap guide being formed from anodized and dyed metal having an ornamental design embossed thereon.

2. An ornamental visor strap comprising:

(a) an outer strap,

('b) an inner strap,

(c) projecting means struck from said inner strap and adapted to engage said headpiece to prevent vertical movement of said visor strap in relation to said headpiece, said means being positioned to be concealed by said outer strap when said visor strap is attached to said headpiece,

(d) a tab,

(e) a tab retainer fixed to the front face of said tab and the rear face of said inner strap near one end thereof and defining a passageway between said tab and said inner strap for slideably receiving said outer strap,

(f) a strap guide fixed to the front face of said outer strap near one end thereof and having portions extending over the top and bottom edges and at least a part of the rear face of said outer strap, said portions and the rear face of said outer strap defining a passageway for slideably receiving said inner strap, and

(g) means for attaching said ornamental visor strap to said headpiece, said outer strap, inner strap, tab, tab retainer and strap guide being formed from anodized and dyed met-a1 having an ornamental design embossed thereon.

3. An ornamental visor strap for a uniform headpiece comprising:

(a) an outer strap,

(b) an inner strap,

(c) a tab,

(d) a first anti-abrasion pad fixed to the rear surface of said tab,

(e) a tab retainer fixed to the front face of said tab and the rear face of said inner strap near one end thereof and defining a passageway between said tab and the front face of said inner strap for slideably receiving said outer strap,

(f) a strap guide fixed to the front face of said outer strap near one end thereof and having portions extending over the top and bottom edges and at least a part of the rear face of said outer strap, said portions and the rear face of said outer strap defining a passageway for slideably receiving said inner strap,

(g) -a second anti-abrasion pad fixed to the rear surface of said outer strap near the end thereof to which said strap guide is fixed, and

(h) means for attaching said visor strap to said headpiece, said outer strap, inner strap, tab, tab retainer and strap guide being formed from anodized and dyed metal having an ornamental design embossed thereon.

4. An ornamental visor strap for a uniform headpiece according to claim 3, wherein said anti-abrasion pads are formed of polymeric material.

5. An ornamental visor strap for a uniform headpiece according to claim 3, wherein said anti-abrasion pads are formed of polytetrafluoroethylene.

6. An ornamental visor strap for a uniform headpiece according to claim 3, having fabric engaging means depending from said inner strap for engaging said headpiece to prevent vertical movement of said visor strap in relation to said headpiece, said fabric engaging means being positioned to be concealed by said outer strap when said visor strap is attached to said headpiece.

7. An ornamental visor strap for a uniform headpiece according to claim 6, wherein said fabric engaging means comprises a triangularly shaped prong struck from and depending from said inner strap at an oblique angle so as to engage said headpiece.

8. An ornamental visor strap for a uniform headpiece according to claim 7, wherein said anti-abrasion pads are formed of polymeric material.

9. An ornamental visor strap for a uniform headpiece according to claim 7, wherein said anti-abrasion pads are formed of polytetrafluoroethylene.

10. An ornamental visor strap for a uniform headpiece comprising:

(a) an outer strap having both inner and outer ends thereof cut in the form of a point and having a hole formed adjacent to the outer end thereof,

(b) an inner strap having both inner and outer ends thereof cut in the form of a point and having a hole formed adjacent to the outer end thereof,

(0) rearwardly projecting means struck from said inner strap for engaging said headpiece to prevent vertical movement of said visor strap in relation to said headpiece, said rearwardly projecting means 'being positioned to be concealed by said outer strap when said visor strap is attached to said headpiece,

(d) a tab having one end thereof cut in the form of a point,

(e) a first anti-abrasion pad fixed to the rear surface of said ta-b,

(f) a second anti-abrasion pad fixed to the rear surface of said outer strap near the inner end thereof,

(g) a tab retainer fixed to the front face of said tab and the rear face of said inner strap near one end thereof and defining a passageway between said tab and the front face of said inner strap for slideably receiving said outer strap,

(h) a strap guide fixed to the front face of said outer strap near the inner end thereof and having portions extending over the top and bottom edges and at least a part of the rear face of said outer strap, said portions and the rear face of said outer strap defining a passageway for slideably receiving said inner strap, and

(i) grommets installed in said holes adjacent to the outer ends of said inner and outer straps, said outer strap, inner strap, tab, tab retainer and strap guide being formed from anodized and dyed aluminum having an ornamental design embossed thereon.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,738,905 12/1929 Kiefer 2-197 X 1,818,765 8/1931 Silverstein 2-195 X 2,611,211 9/1952 Stackton 2'4115.8 2,681,451 6/1954 Lipschutz 2-195 X 2,683,113 7/1954 France et a1. 204-58 X FOREIGN PATENTS 13,135 Great Britain. of 1891 JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

G. H. KRITZMANICH, Assistant Examiner. 

1. AN ORNAMENTAL VISOR STRAP FOR A UNIFORM HEADPIECE COMPRISING: (A) AN OUTER STRAP, (B) AN INNER STRAP, (C) MEANS CARRIED BY SAID INNER STRAP AND ADAPTED TO ENGAGE SAID HEADPIECE TO PREVENT VERTICAL MOVEMENT OF SAID VISOR STRAP IN RELATION TO SAID HEADPIECE, (D) A TAB, (E) A TAB RETAINER FIXED TO THE FRONT FACE OF SAID TAB AND THE REAR FACE OF SAID INNER STRAP NEAR ONE END THEREOF AND DEFINING A PASSAGEWAY BETWEEN SAID TAB AND SAID INNER STRAP FOR SLIDEABLY RECEIVING SAID OUTER STRAP, (F) A STRAP GUIDE FIXED TO THE FRONT FACE OF SAID OUTER STRAP NEAR ONE END THEREOF AND HAVING PORTIONS EXTENDING OVER THE TOP AND BOTTOM EDGES AND AT LEAST A PART OF THE REAR FACE OF SAID OUTER STRAP, SAID PORTIONS AND THE REAR FACE OF SAID OUTER STRAP DEFINING A PASSAGEWAY FOR SLIDEABLY RECEIVING SAID INNER STRAP, AND (G) MEANS FOR ATTACHING SAID ORNAMENTAL VISOR STRAP TO SAID HEADPIECE, SAID OUTER STRAP, INNER STRAP, TAB, TAB RETAINER AND STRAP GUIDE BEING FORMED FROM ANODIZED AND DYED METAL HAVING AN ORNAMENTAL DESIGN EMBOSSED THEREON. 